Important Details

• Studio: Flyswatter Studios
• Project: Swarm Hunter (PC / Steam, coming soon)
• Engine: Unity
• Role type: Contract
• Location: Remote
• Compensation: Hourly or flat rate - negotiable based on experience and scope

About Swarm Hunter

Swarm Hunter is a 2D side-scrolling action roguelike set in an alternate-history 1985. You play Master Commander Lance Johnson of the Gilded Seeker, beaming down to a Pluto overrun by a ravenous alien swarm. Across five distinct biomes, players battle through monstrous hordes and bosses, rescue stranded crew, scavenge DNA to upgrade their arsenal, and call in orbital strikes and ModBot support from the ship above.

Key reference points for the role:

• 2D side-scroller with platforming and combat traversal
• Five biomes, each with its own environmental identity, hazards, and bosses
• Roguelike run structure - levels need to read well across many repeated playthroughs
• Retro sci-fi / comic-book visual language
• Built in Unity

The Role

We're hiring a Level Designer for a layout pass on all five biomes of Swarm Hunter. Environment art is already complete for every biome, so your work directly unblocks the path to a finished, shippable game.

If you have strong Unity sprite shape experience, we're open to expanding the scope to include decoration passes alongside the layout pass, taking levels from blockout through to a visually dressed state using our existing art kit. The expanded scope would be reflected in the rate.

Responsibilities

• Level layout pass for all 5 biomes, working from design briefs and reference materials
• Spatial flow, traversal, sightlines, and pacing within each level
• Iterating on layouts based on playtest feedback from the team
• (Optional) Decoration passes using our completed environment art

Ideal candidate

• Shipped at least one 2D action, platformer, or roguelike title, or has a portfolio of strong personal or jam projects in the genre
• Fluent in Unity and comfortable working inside an existing project structure
• Able to translate a biome's mood, threats, and mechanical hooks into spatial layouts that hold up across repeat runs
• Communicates clearly in writing and on calls; works well async with a small distributed team
• Self-directed - we'll give you briefs, reference, and feedback, not micromanagement
• Available to overlap with US working hours for syncs as needed

Bonus

• Unity sprite shape proficiency (unlocks the deco pass and a higher rate)
• Experience designing for roguelike or roguelite run structures specifically
• Familiarity with classic era level design conventions

Project Scope

• Deliverable: Layout pass (and optionally decorated) levels for 5 biomes
• Estimated duration: 2-3 months
• Engagement: Milestone-based, one biome per milestone, with revision rounds built in
• Start date: Immediate

How to Apply

Send an email with the following:

1. Use “LD Application” as the subject line
2. Portfolio or reel showcasing relevant level design work - playable links strongly preferred over video
3. A short note on which of your past projects is closest to Swarm Hunter in feel and why
4. Your rate expectation (hourly or per-biome flat) and earliest available start date
5. Optional: a sample greybox or layout from a roguelike or 2D action game you'd point to as your strongest work

Applications: Rolling until filled.

We read every application. Expect a response within 5–7 days.